Our Team

Teamwork - The Foundation of Our Success

It's almost a truism today that a company's people are its greatest asset.  But at Scott A. Goffstein & Associates, this is definitely the case.  We believe in the skills, talents and commitments of our people.  And, as you'll see, together they provide a group that we proudly refer to as Team Scott A. Goffstein.  It is the combination of their talent and ability to work as a team that we believe sets us apart from the rest.

Our Partners and Management Team

Deborah B. Keenan, C.P.A.

Debbie Keenan is a CPA who brings an unusual ability to understand the whole range of complex tax and accounting issues facing a client.  She's been with the firm since 1992 and in that time has become involved with a wide variety of companies.  Before joining the firm, Debbie worked in the tax department of The Boston Company handling tax matters for high net worth individuals.  Before that, she was in the accounting department of an office supply company.  Debbie graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.  She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPA's.  She lives in Malden when she's not skiing in Vermont.

Michael J. Higgins, C.P.A., M.S.T.

Michael Higgins is a CPA with an expertise in a wide range of corporate tax matters. He has been with the firm since 1995 and in that time he has successfully handled tax problems and related issues for a multitude of different companies in a broad range of industries. Michael is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Salem State College, and a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley. Currently he resides in the North Shore area with his family.

Our Staff

Sanghita Baishya

Sanghita has varied experience in the field of accounting and taxation.  She has previously worked with the accounting team of one of the largest marketing organizations in India and on a foreign stock exchange.  She moved to the United States in 2002 and started her career here working as a tax associate for a national firm.  A Chartered Accountant from India, she also has a B.S. in Accounting and successfully completed the May 2003 CPA exam.  In her leisure hours, she likes to watch movies of Audrey Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock.  She also enjoys traveling.  She lives with her husband and daughter in Framingham.

Jordyn Budden

Jordyn Budden is an administrative assistant with a B.S. in Management and Marketing from UMass Lowell. She has a vast amount of customer service experience and multitasking abilities from her many years as a shift supervisor at Starbucks. The company taught her solid ideals through its mission of quality in service and product. She will take various skills from this fast paced environment and recent schooling to her new position.

In her spare time, her organized manner lets her enjoy the household duties of cooking and cleaning but her real passion is antiquing, fashion, and decorating.

Andrew Cordes

Andrew Cordes is a member of the administrative team with a B.S. in Political Science from Drew University in Madison, NJ. He brings a variety of different experiences to the firm, ranging from being captain of his college rugby team to working for a think tank in Washington D.C.

In his free time, Andrew is an avid reader, sports fan, and gardener who resides in Framingham where he grew up and attended high school.

Ciprian Deaconu

Ciprian has vast experience in the accounting field. A chartered accountant in Romania, he has worked with private companies and governmental institutions in his own country.

Ciprian graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bentley University in 2011 where he attained his Master of Science in Accounting with a double concentration in Taxation and Fraud and Forensic Accounting. He is actively pursuing the completion of his CPA license in Massachusetts.

Michelle Higgins

Michelle Higgins brings a variety of experience from the accounting world. Prior to joining the firm, Michelle worked at a public firm on corporate tax returns, financial statements, bookkeeping, payroll and sales tax. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she now resides in Bellingham, with her two daughters.

Traci Paquin

As the daughter of a naval officer, Traci grew up in a number of foreign countries. Traci brings a myriad of "know-how " to our administrative team by drawing from her experiences in retail, the hospitality industry, and non-profit organizations.

During her down time, you can often find her reading or experimenting in the kitchen.

Sarah Ryan

Sarah is a staff accountant who received her B.S. in Corporate Finance and Accounting from Bentley University in 2011. She first joined the firm as an administrative intern before transitioning to a professional intern and, finally, to a full-time posting with the firm. She plans to return to school to pursue her masters’ degree. In her free time she enjoys watching all Boston sports. She currently resides in Medway.

Nishigandha Sahasrabudhe

Nishigandha is a staff accountant with varied experience in the field of taxation and accounting. She moved to the United States from India in 2009. Prior to joining Scott A. Goffstein & Associates, Nishigandha worked for a Big 4 accounting firm in India as an assistant manager in the Tax department. Besides being a Chartered Accountant from India, she also has B.S. in Accounting. Nishigandha successfully completed the CPA exam in August 2010 and plans to pursue her Masters degree in the near future.

She is an associate member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and The Massachusetts Society of CPAs. Nishigandha has learnt Indian Classical dance. In her leisure time she enjoys traveling and watching movies. She lives with her husband in Waltham.

Heet Shah

Heet Shah is a CPA with an expertise in various tax and accounting matters. He has successfully handled complex tax problems and related issues facing clients and has also dealt with various international accounting issues over the years. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in May 2008 where he attained a B.S. in Management with a concentration in Accounting. During his spare time, Heet enjoys watching sports. He currently lives in Belmont.

Amanda Siano

In 2006 Amanda joined Scott A. Goffstein & Associates, LLP, to lend part time support to the administrative infrastructure of the company. Today, she oversees the administrative operations of the firm in her role as office manager. Amanda draws her administrative skills and expertise from over 14 years in the corporate world. Prior to joining the firm she held the position of office manager for a software company in the manufacturing industry. Amanda is a 1995 graduate of Johnson & Wales University, and a member of both the Association for Accounting Administration and the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Currently she and her family reside in the Merrimack Valley area.

Elizabeth Welch

Liz Welch is a senior staff accountant who has been with the firm since 1996. She graduated from Bryant University in Smithfield, RI with a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Accounting. Liz enjoys traveling in her spare time. She currently lives in South Boston.

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